Three international agri-industry companies are reported to be interested in buying the operations of SAF Cacoa, which was liquidated following an order from the Ivorian Cocoa Board, the CCC.

Ivory Coast is the world's biggest exporter of cocoa.

SAF Cacoa, which purchased up to 200,000 tonnes of cocoa beans every year, collapsed owing about $143m (£109m) to Ivory Coast's Cocoa Board and double that to banks in the country.

The American agriculture giant Cargill, plus its rivals Wilmar, which is based in Singapore, and Touton of France, are considered the serious bidders by the Ivorian authorities to acquire the firm's assets.

It's thought that Wilmar and Touton are interested in SAF's Choco-Ivoire grinding plant, as well as its other cocoa and coffee factories.

The U.S group Cargill is most interested in large storage warehouses.

The cocoa board and other creditors want a swift decision on a sale, so that banks can be reimbursed quickly.

Exporters of cocoa are major borrowers in Ivory Coast, but a wave of defaults has raised fears of the banking sector being destabilised.